Thomas Sowell made the point that Christianity changed in the 18th and 19th centuries. He pointed out that slavery existed and was taken for granted an an institution in all cultures and worldwide, throughout history. And that includes Christian culture as well as Confuscian, Budhist, Hindu, and Moslem.The history of this country was forever changed, and not for the better, by the deaths in the Civil War of a generation of the best young men ... South and North.But in the past two centuries Christianity became able to prevent slave raids of its own territory, and then became willing to fight for the freedom of strangers. Britain established a squadron of the Royal Navy permanently stationed off western Africa for no other purpose than to interdict the slave trade, without any hope of recompense, never mind profit. Not only so, but Britain did not recognize the Confederacy and interfere in the Civil War, which would have doomed the Union, even though cotton fueled Britain's industrial revolution. Fear of just such action by the British was the sole reason for the Emanicpation Proclamation, which was unpopular in the North and anathema in the South, but assured that British Christians would not support the Confederacy in any way.
Sowell points out that the South had a tiger by the tail and could not let go; abolition would mean letting abused black slaves have the opportunity to undertake to get even. And for that reason, before the war abolition was a marginal, radical, position upheld by few.
Unquestionably.
I've always thought that there was a blockade to prevent British ships from buying the South's cotton.
Abolition may have been considered radical ... and fraught with peril.Many good men in the South wrestled with the concept of slavery. One in particular comes to mind:
Lt. Gen. Wade Hampton III (1818-1902) is one of the most underrated commanders of the Civil War. The reputations of other more flamboyant generals overshadow his remarkable accomplishments. While Hampton was in command of the Confederate Cavalry Corps, through to the end of the war, he never lost a single fight. Hampton was an intuitive tactician noted for perseverance and courage under fire. As a South Carolina legislator prior to the War, Hampton had taken conservative positions on slavery and secession. He opposed the division of the Union and began to doubt the morality of the slave-based Southern economy; however, when several Southern states passed articles of secession, Hampton’s loyalty to his home soil caused him to pledge his vast fortune and his services to the Confederacy.If you are not on the Dr. Sowell *PING* List, consider this an introduction to GordonGekko909 who will, at your request, add you to his list.
Dr. Sowell is a wise men. When he speaks, all should listen.